Not only is CP doing well, but he's relatively healthy, and the running game and O-line are playing better with an offensive game plan designed around CP (any insight, blitz?). Ride it until he cools
well..concussions are iffy injuries...it wouldnt hurt for DD to rest another week.....plus printers looks unstoppable..so go wit whose hot (CP) but if he sputters...then DD goes in (if hes 100%)
It would be a very tough call if both were healthy and ready to go. I lean to going with Printers (based upon Wally liking to stay with his starter for most of the game ) for this weekend to give Dave Dickenson one more week to recover for the concussion. I'm not even sure if I would give him any game reps against Edmonton if Casey is playing well.
If the Leos did put Dickenson in the game I really believe you gotta give him, on EVERY passing play the opportunity to have a reciever running a quick route or a dump off so he doesn't get hit. I really believe its more important that not to take unncessary risks and give Dickenson an extra week before getting him back ready and prepared for the playoffs. I'm basing this on the assumption that Printers arm is 'ok to go' against Edmonton.
In the final game of the season I really believe you gotta play them each one half, perhaps Dickenson even more than a half so that he has the necessary game reps for the playoffs. If one gets injured the other will be ready. If we were hosting the Western Final I would have two scnearios. The first is to play Printers for the first half and Dickenson for the second half with the option of inserting either one if the other is struggling. The second option would be to play Printers for the first quarter and Dickenson for the second and then start the third with the one who was playing better. I like Printers starting the game based on strategy and I like Dickenson coming in to finish the game, based upon his style and what it offers at that time of the game. I wrote my reasons on another thread. Its long (whats new) but if you're interested and didn't didn't see it....an excerpt of it is down below.
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Dave Dickenson: He brings veteran leadership, mental toughness, a strong knowledge of the CFL, NFL back-up experience, a strong background knowledge of different defensive alignments and schemes. He's a cerebral quarterback with very good ability to read a defence. He's mainly a pocket passer and can move around in the pocket and is willing to run. He has great touch on short passes, throws the intermediate ball very accurately, and can go deep. He throws few interceptions. His ball control style of quarterbacking can eat up a lot of clock.
Casey Printers: A tall, strong quarterback he brings athleticism to the position along with a strong arm and excellent running ability. He has leadership abilities and is physically tough. He has great escapability from the pocket, is excellent at running the rollout, throws an accurate deep ball on the run, and can stay in the pocket and deliver the ball quickly. He throws few interceptions considering his penchant for the deep pass. He attacks defences vertically.
Dave Dickenson's style is most effective against teams running zone defences, four or five man rushes, and when the running game is an integral part of the offence, setting up play action.
Casey Printers is most effective against teams that like to blitz and play man to man. His escapability and rollout ability puts pass defenders in tough situations as he buys time for them to get open. He will challenge a bltizing defence deep early.
Certain opposition defences are made for each style. That doesn't mean either style isn't effective against any defence, just that one works a little better.
All things being equal (say against a team that both blitzes a lot and also plays zone a lot) I would have a tendancy to start Printers for the following reasons.
1. Teams like to blitz more in the first half of games to throw off the rythym of the offence and get the quarterback under duress early. Printers has the ability to escape the blitz and his rollouts make it tougher to get to him. He'll challenge a blitzing defence early and often, causing greater fear for a blitzing defence and he also stretches the defence vertically. Printers throws the deep ball better than Dickenson. His early running ability, rollouts, and deep patterns tire out a defence quickly. The defence will have a tendancy to rush less people, play more zone to prevent the deep ball, and wear out more quickly with Printers starting.
2. Dave Dickenson can shred a defence when he's given time to throw. The defensive line, worn out by Printers running and rolling out, is then easier to run against. The pass rush is also usually less effective in the second half of a game, as smaller defensive lineman get worn down by by being blocked by larger offensive lineman and they are also less fresh. Dickenson is very effective in play action and the time helps him find open recievers. Dickenson is outstanding at stretching a defence horizontally with his passes, creating a double nightmare for defensive coordinators. The defence, now back on its heels, playing zone, will give up the intermediate ball more and noone throws the intermediate ball as well as Dickenson. If the Leos have the lead, with the defence playing well, Dickenson's ball control style is also more patient and can chew up more clock.
Of course, nothing ever works this perfectly, and defences would adjust to each quarterback's style during the game but the adjustment process can take time and both quarterbacks also have the ability to adjust their game as well.
Its a way of having two number one quarterbacks play and would probably be the most effective offence the Leos could utilize. Will it happen...probably not...but no harm in dreaming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
